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Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Sep, 2024;122 (2): 195-206.

Synthesized alternative reinforcement and resurgence.

Sean W Smith, Beatriz E Arroyo Antúnez, Jacqueline DeBartelo, William E Sullivan, Henry S Roane, Andrew R Craig
Author Information
  1. Sean W Smith: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA. ORCID
  2. Beatriz E Arroyo Antúnez: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA. ORCID
  3. Jacqueline DeBartelo: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
  4. William E Sullivan: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
  5. Henry S Roane: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
  6. Andrew R Craig: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
PMID: 39086124 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.4202

Abstract

In treatments based on differential reinforcement of alternative behavior, applied researchers and clinicians often provide multiple, qualitatively different reinforcers (i.e., synthesized reinforcement) rather than a single reinforcer (i.e., isolated reinforcement) contingent on alternative behavior. Some research shows that providing synthesized reinforcement for alternative responses within such treatments produces more rapid and complete suppression of target behavior; however, there is limited research evaluating the durability of these effects during treatment disruptions. Conceptual explanations of resurgence (e.g., resurgence as choice, context theory) suggest that treatments that include synthesized alternative reinforcement may lead to more resurgence of target behavior when alternative reinforcement is disrupted relative to treatments using isolated reinforcement. We evaluated this hypothesis within a three-phase resurgence evaluation. We exposed rats to isolated or synthesized reinforcement for alternative responding in the second phase, and we exposed rats to extinction in the third phase. Synthesized alternative reinforcement produced more rapid and complete suppression of target behavior than did isolated reinforcement in the second phase; however, exposure to extinction following synthesized reinforcement produced more resurgence. We discuss these results in terms of their implications for applied research and their support for current conceptual explanations for resurgence.

Keywords

differential reinforcement of alternative behavior isolated reinforcement relapse resurgence synthesized reinforcement

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MeSH Term

Animals
Rats
Reinforcement, Psychology
Extinction, Psychological
Reinforcement Schedule
Male
Conditioning, Operant
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Choice Behavior
Journal Article

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